that was resident in Palermo and desired that he might see the Gentleman that had done the murther but the Gayler would not suffer him but inquired what country man he was he answered a Uenetian and that is the reason quoth hee that I am desirous to haue a sight of him Philomela hearing that he was a Uenetian asked him what newes from Uenice The Sayler for so hee was discoursed vnto her what late had chaunced and amongst the rest he discouered the â—ortunes of Philomela and how she was wrongfully accused by her husband the Earle how her Father came to Uenice and hauing her accusers two slaues examined they confest the Earle suborned them to the periurie wherupon Philippo was banished and now as a man in dispaire sought about to finde out his wife Philomela hearing these newes thanking him tooke her leaue of the Sailer and went home where getting alone into her chamber she began thus to meditate with her selfe now Philomela thou maist see heauens are iust and God impartiall that though he defers he doeth not acquit that thogh he suffer the innocent to be wronged yet at last hee persecuteth the malicious with reuenge that time hatcheth trueth and that true honor maye be blemisht with enuye but neuer vtterly defaced with extremitie now is thy lyfe laid open in Uenice and thy fame reuiued in spight of Fortune now maiest thou triumphe in the fall of thy Ieliouse husband and write thy chastitie in the characters of his bloode so shall he die disgraced and thou returne to Uenice as a wonder Now shal thine eie see his end that hath sought to ruinate thee and thou liue content and satisfied in the iust reuenge of a periured husband Oh Philomela that worde husband is a high tearme easily pronounced in the mouth but â—euer to be banished from the hart knowest thou not that the loue of a wife must not end but by death that the tearme of marriage is dated in the graue that wyues should so long loue and obey as they liue and drawe breath that they should preferre their husbands honor before their owne life and choose rather to die then sée him wronged Why else did Alcest die for Admetus Why did Portia eate coales for the loue of Brutus if it were not that wiues ought to end their liues with their loues Truth Philomela but Philippo is a traytour hée hath imblemisht thy fame sought to ruine thine honour aimde at thy life condemnd thée both to diuorce and banishment and lastly hath stainde the high honors of thy Fathers house And what of all this Philomela hath not euerie man his fault Is there any offence so great that may not bee forgiuen Philippo did not woorke thée this wrong because he loued some other but because he ouerloued thee t'was Ielousie not lasciutousnes that forst him to that follie and suspition is incident onely to such as are kind hearted louers Hath not God reuengde thy iniurie and thy Father punisht him with the like penaltie that thy selfe doest suffer and wilt thou now glorie in his miserie No Philomela shew thy selfe vertuous as ere thou hast béene honorable and heape coales on his head by shewing him fauour in extremitie If he hath slain the Dukes sonne it is through despaire and if hee had not come hither to séeke thée hee had not fallen into this misfortune The Palme trée the moreit is prest downe the more it sprowteth vp the Camomill the more it is troden the swéeter smell it yéeldeth euen so ought a good wife to be kind to her husband midst his greatest discourtesies and rather to venture her life then suffer him incur any preiudice and so will I doe by Philippo for rather then hée shall die in the sight of Philomela I wil iustifie him with mine owne death so shall my ende bee honorable as my life hath béene wonderfull With this shee ceased and went to her rest till the next day morning that the Dukes and the states gathered togither to sit in iudgement whether came Lutesio and the Duke of Millaine disguised to see what he was that being a Uenetian committed the murther there also was Philomela and the saylers wife At last the County Philippo was brought foorth whome when the Duke of Millaine sawe iogging Lutesio with his hand he whispered and said see Lutesio where man fauours yet God doth in extremitie reuenge now shal we see the fall of our enemie yet not touched with his bloode whispering thus amongest themselues At last the Duke of Palermo began to examine him if he were he that slew his sonne he answered that hee was the man would with his blood answer it what moued you saies the Duke to do the murther an oulde grudge quoth he that hath béene betweene him and me euer since he was in Uenice and for that cause reuenge was so restles in my minde that I came from thence purposly to act the tragedy and am not sory that I haue contented my thoughts with his bloode at this his manifest confession the Duke full of wrath arose and said it was booteles further to impannell any Iurye therefore vpoÌ„ his words he would pronouÌ„ce sentence against him Then Philomela calling to the Duke and desiring she might be heard began thus to plead O mighty Duke staye the censure least thy verdict wrong the innocent thou condemne and earle through his owne disparing euidence I see and with trembling I feele that a guiltye conscience is a thousand witnesses That as it is vnpossible to couer the light of the Sunne with a Curtaine so the remorse of murther caâ— not be concealed in the closet of the most secrete conspirator For standing by and hearing thée ready to pronouÌ„ce sentence against the Innocent I euen I that committed the déede though to the exigent of mine owne death could not but burst foorth into these exclamations to saue the sacklesse Knowe therefore that he which standeth héere before the Iudgement seate is an Earle though banished his name is Countie Philippo Medici my husband and once famous in Italie though héere he be blemisht by Fortune At this all the companye lookt vpon her Philippo as a man amazed stood staring on her face the teares trickling downe his chéeks to see the kindenes of his wife whome so deepely he had iniured and the Duke of Millaine her Father with Lutesio were in as great a wonder Last she prosecuted her purpose thus It were too long worthye Scicilians to rehearse the wronges this Philippo hath vsed against me distressed Countesse through his extreame iealousie onely lâ—t this bréefely 〈◊〉 hee suborâ—ed his 〈◊〉 to sweare I was séene in the act of Adultery they were beléeued I deuorced and banished and héere euer since I haue liued in contented patience But since my exile time that is the reuealer of truth hath made the slaues bewraye the effect of the matter so that this present Earle is found guiltye mine honour saued he banished and now
must haue their longing or else I die through their ouerliking for as too swéet parfumes makes the sense to surfet and the most bright coulours soonest blemish the sight so I in gasing on the choise perfections of beauty haue dazelled mine eies and fiered my hart with desire that none but the fruition of that blessed obiect can saue me from being loues cursed abieâ—t Now Madam â—he rare Idea that thus through the applause of mine eie hath bewitched my hart is the beauteous image of your swéet selfe Pardon me if I presume when the extremity of loue pricks me forward Faults that grow by affection ought to bee forgiuen bicause they come of constraint then Madam read with fauour and censure with mercy for so long I dallied with the flie about the candle that I began to féele ouer much heat would breed my harme I haue playd so long with the Mynew at the baite that I am stricken with the hooke I haue viewed your beautye with such delighte and considered of your vertues with such desire that in your gratious lookes lies the only hope of my life Ah Philomela were not my loue extreame my passions passing all measure my affection to full of anguish I woulde haue concealed my thoughts with silence and haue smoothered my gréefes with patience but either I must liue by reuealing it or die by repressing it I feare thou wilte heare obiect Philippo is my friend and then I am of little fayth to profer him this wrong I confesse this is a truth and were worthy of blame were I not bewitcht by loue whoe neyther admitteth exceptions of fayth or friendshippe if it be a passion that controuleth the Goddes no woonder at all if it conquer and commande men If sonnes disobey their Fathers to haue their desires it is more tollerable to crack friendship for the conquest of loue Whie then did Nature frame beawty to be so excellent if she had tied the winning of it within exceptions If that a friend may fault with his friend for a kingdom no doubâ— fayth may be broken â—or loue that is a great deale more puissant then Kinges and much more pretious then Diadems chiefly if that the party be chary to haue regarde of his mystresse honour what the eie sees not Phylomela neuer hurteth the heart a secret loue impeacheth not chastitie Iuno neuer frowned when Iupiter made his scape in a Cloude Priuate pleasures haue neuer inioyned vnto them anye pennance and shee is alwaies counted chast enough that is chary enoughe then Madam let him not die for loue whome if you please you may blesse with loue It may be you will replye that Philippo is a Conte and a great deale my superiour and the supreame of your hart therefore not to be wronged with an arriual Consider Madame kinges doo brooke many vnknowne scapes Loue will play the wanton amongest the greatest Lordes Women are not made such chaste nunnes but they may let much water slippe by the Mill that the Miller knoweth not of They may loue their husband with one of their eies and fauour a friende with the other Since then Madam I haue béene stunge with the Scorpion and cannot be helpt or healed by none but by the Scorpion that I am wounded with Achilles launce and I must be healed with his Truncheon that I am intangled and snared in your beautie and must bee set at libertie onely by your loue Looke vpon my passions and pyttie them let me not die for desiring your sweete selfe but rather graunt me fauour and enioy suche a louer as will prise your honour before his life and at all times be yours in all dutyfull seruice whilest hee liues expecting such an answere as is agreeyng to such diuine beawtie which cannot bee câ—uell or according vnto my dâ—stinie which be it sâ—â—ister wilbe my death farwel Yours euer though neuer yours Geouanni Lutesio Hauing finished his letter thus amorousliâ— he remembred himselfe and although philippoâ— stayde for him in the garden yet he â—tept once againe to his standishe and wrote vnder this fgllowing soâ—net Natura Nihil frustra On women Nature did bestow two eies Like Hemians bright lamps in matchles beuty shining Whose beames do soonest captiuate the wise And wary heads made rare by Arts refining But why did Nature in hir choise combining Plant two fayre eyes within a beautuous face That they might fauour two with equall grace Venus did sooth vp Vulcan with one eie With thother granted Mars his wished glee If she dyd so whom Heimens did defie Thinke loue no sinne but grant an eie to me In vayne else Nature gaue two stars to thee If then two eyes may well two friends maintayne Allow of two and proue not Nature vayne Natura repugnare belluinum After he had ended this Sonnet he went and shewed them to Signyor Philippo who liked well of his passionate humour and desired nothinge more then to heare what answere his wife woulde make to these amarous poems therefore that he might grant Lutesio the fitter oportunitie to deliuer them he tooke a skiffe and wente with sundrye other Gentlemen his familiars to sollace himselfe vpon the waters In the meane while Lutesio who was left alone by himselfe began to enter into the least disposition of a gelous man that woulde hazard the honour of his wife to content his owne suspitious humour and whet on a friend to a fayned fancie which in time might grow to an vnfayned affection so that smyling to himselfe he began thus to murmure in his minde Is not he worthy to finde that seekes and deserueth he not many blowes that craues to be beaten Sith Philippo will buy the Buckes head is he not worthy to haue the hornes and séeing he will needes haue me court his wife in iest were it not well if he might haue the Cuckow in earnest Knowes he not that frumps amongest friends grow at last to open anger that pretty sportings in loue end oftentimes in pretty bargaines that it is il gesting with edge tooles and of all cattell worst cauilling with fayre women for beawty is a baite that will not be dallied with But I loue him to well and I honour the lady to much to motion suche a thought in earnest Though he be foolishe I knowe hir too honeste to grant loue to the greatest Monarch of the world While thus he was musing with himselfe Philomela came into the Garden with two of her waiting women whoe seeing Lutesio in a dumpe thought hee was deuising of his new loue wherevpon she stept to him and began to aske him if hee proceeded in his purpose I madame quoth he if I meane to perseuer in life and with that the water flood in his eyes whether it was that he had an onion in his napkin to make him wéepe or that hee had suckt that speciall qualitie from his mother to let fal teares when he list I know not but she perceiuing hee watred his plants began somewhat to
vnworthy of her as she is beyond my reach to compasse Philomela who straight found the knot in the rush began to imagine that it was some married wife that Lutesio aimed at and therfore charged him by the loue that he bare to Philippo Medico that he would tell her whether it was a wife or a mayd that hée thus earnestly affected Lutesio briefly tolde her that she was not onely a wife but maide to one whome shée almost as tenderly loued as he did the Earle her husband A Ladie of honour and vertue yet a woman and therefore hée hoped might be wonne if his heart woulde serue him to be a woer Philomela â—earing this began to finde a knot in the rush and to déeme that it was some familiar of hys that he was affected to and therfore with a gentle frown as if shee loued him and yet mislikte of his fondnesse in fancie taking him by the hand she began thus to schoolâ— him Lutesio nowe I sée the strongest Oake hath his say and his wormes that Rauens will bréed in the fairest Ash and that the musked Angelica beares a deaw that shining like pearle being tasted is most preiuditiall that the holiest men in shew are oft the hollo west men in substance and where there is the greatest florish of vertue there in time appeareth the greatest blemish of vanitie I speake this by all but apply it to them who seeming euery way absolute will proue euerie way dissolute Hath not Venice held thée more famous for thy good partes than for thy parentage and yet well borne and valued the more for liuing well than wealthely and yet thy patrimonie is not small Oh Lutesio darken not these honours with dishonâ—stie nor for the foolish and fading passion of lust reach not at an euerlasting pennancâ— of infamie As I mislike of thy choyce so I can but wonder at thy change to â—ée thée altered in maners that wert earst so modest who was estâ—â—med amongst Ladies for his ciuill conceites as Lutesio thou wert wished for amongest the chaâ—test for thy choyce qualities amongesâ— youth for thy wit amongest age for thy honest behauior desired of all because offensiue to none and nowe if thou prosecute this â—ad purpose intend this base loue to violate the honour of a Venetian Ladie looke to be hated of all that are vertuâ—us because thou aâ—t growne so sodainly vicious and to be banished out of the companie of all that are honest because thou séekest to make one dishohonest then as thou louest thy fame leaue off this loue and as thou valuest thine honour so vale the appetite of thy dishonest thoughtes Besides Lutesio enter into the consideration of the fault and by that measure what will be the sequell of thy folly thou attemptest to dishonour a wife nay the wife of thy friend in doing this thou shalt loose a swéete companion and purchase thy selfe a fatall enemie thou shalt displease God and grow odious to men hazard the hope of thy grace and assurâ— thy selfe of the reward of sinne adulterie Lutesio is commended in none condemned in all and punnished in the end either with this worldes infamie or heauens anger it is a desire without regard of honestie and a gaine with greater reward of miserie a pleasure bought with paine a delight hatched with disquiet a content possessed with feare and a sinne finished with sorrowe Barbarous nations punishe it with death mâ—â—re Atheistes in Religion auoid it by instinct of nature such as glory God with no honor couet to glorifie themselues with honesty and wilt thou that art a Christian than crucifie Christ anew by making the harbour of thy soule the habitation of Satan Oh Lutesio as thou blushest at my wordes so bannish thy bad thoughts and being created by God seeke not to despise thy creator in abusing his creatures A womans honestie is her honour and her honour the chiefest essence of her life then in seeking to blemishe her vertues with lust thou â—ymest at no lesse disgrace than her death and yet Lutesio this is not all for in winning her loue thou loosest a friend than which there is nothing more pretious as there is nothing more rare as Corruptio vnius est generatio alterius so the losse of a friend is the purchase of an enemie and such a mortall foe as will apply all his wittes to thy wracks intrude all his thoughtes to thy ruine and passe away his daies cares and nights slumbers in dreaming of thy destruction For if brute beasts will reuenge such brutish wrongs as adultery then imagine no man to be so patient that will ouerpasse so grosse an iniurie assure thy selfe of this Lutesio if her husband heare of your loues he will aime at your liues he will leaue no confection vntempered no poyson vnsearcht no mynerall vntried no Aconiton vnbrused no hearbe trée roote stone simple or secret vnsought till reuenge hath satisfied the burning thirst of his hate so shalt thou feare with whom to drincke with whome to conuerse when to walke how to performe thy affaires onely for doubt of her reuenging husband and thy protested enemie If such vnlawull lust such vnkinde desires such vnchast loue procure so great losse and so many perils reuert it Lutesio as a passion most pernitious as a shine most odious and a gaine most full of deadly sorrowes Though this he much Lutesio yet this is not all for many loue that are neuer liked and euerie one that woes is not a winner Diuers desire with hope and yet their wishes are to small effect suppose the Ladie whome thou louest is honest then is thy loue as vnlikely as Ixions was to Iuno who aiming at the substaunce was made a foole with a shadow I tell thée it is more easie to cut a Diamond with a glasse to pearce steele with a fether to tye an Elephant with a thréed of silke than to alienate an honest womans loue from her husband their heartes be harbours of one louâ— closets of one contents Celâ—es whereinto no amorous Idea but one can enter as hard to be pearst with new fangled affâ—ction as the Adamant to be made soft with fire A Ladie Lutesio that regardeth her honour wil die with Lucrece before she agrée to lust she will eate coales with Portia before she prone vnchast she will thinke euerie miserie swéet euery mishappe content before she condiscend to the allurementes of any wanton leacher Imagine then her whâ—â—â— thou louest to be such a one then will it qualifie thy hope coole thy desires and quench those vnbridled thoughtes that leades thée on to such follies for if she be a wanton what doest thou winne her that many hath worne and more than thy selfe may vanquish a light huswife and a lewd minion that after she hath yéelded the flower of her loue Thesius will marrie with Menelaus and then runne away with Paris amorous to euerie one because shee is humorous to all Then Lutesio séeing if thou likest an honest
Ladie thy loue is past hope and if thou 〈◊〉 a wantâ—n thou shalt gain but what others haue left leaue both and become as hitherto thou hast béen an honest gentleman in all mens opinions so shalt thou liâ—e well thought of and die honourably and with that smiling she asked him if she had not plaied the preacher well But Lutesio wondering at her vertues made no answer he was so amased but rested silent which Philomela perceiuing to waken him out of his dumpe she tooke againe her Lute in her hand and began to sing this following Oade Philomeloes second Oade IT was frostie winters season And faire-Floras wealth was geason Meades that earst with greene were spred With choice flowers diapred Had tawny vales Cold had scanted What the Springes and Nature planted Leauelesse bowes there might you see All except faire Daphnes tree On their twigges no byrdes pearched Warmer couerts none they searched And by Natures secret reason Framed their voyces to the season With their feeble tunes bewraying How they greeued the springs decaying Frostie Winter thus had gloomed Each faire thing that sommer bloomed Fieldes were bare and trees vnclad Flowers withered byrdes were had When I saw a shepheard fold Sheepe in Coate to shun the cold Himselfe sitting on the grasse That with frost withered was Sighing deepely thus gan say Loue is folly when a stray Like to loue no passion such For his madnesse if too much If too little then dispaire If too high he beates the ayâ—e With bootlesse if too low An Egle matcheth with a Crow Thence growes iarres thus I finde Loue is folly if vnkinde Yet do men most desire To be heated with this fire Whose flame is so pleasing hot That they burne yet feele it noâ— Yet hath loue another kinde Worse than these vnto the minde That is when a wantons eie Leades desire cleade awrie And with the Bee doth reioyce Euery minute to change choyce Counting he were then in blisse If that â—ch faire fall were his Highly thus in loue disgraste When the louer is vnchaste And would tast of fruit forbidden Cause the scape is easily hidden Though such loue be sweet in brewing Bitter is the end insuing For the humor of loue he shameth And himselfe with lust defameth For a minutes pleasure gayning Fame and honour euer stayning Gazing thus so farre awry Last the chip falles in his eie Then it burnes that earst but heate him And his owne rod gins to beate him His choyccst sweetes turnes to gall He findes lust is fins thrall That wanton women in their eyes Mens deceiuings do comprise That homage done to faire faces Doth dishonour other graces If lawlesse loue be such a sinne Curst is he that liues therein For the gaine of Venus game Is the downfall vnto shame Here he pausd and did stay Sighed and rose and went away Assoone as Philomela had ended her Oade she smiled on Lutesio and said hoping then that this priuate conference shalbe a conclusion of your passions and a finall resolution to reuerse your thoughts from this disordinat folly of loue I will at this time cease to speake anie more because I hope you will rest from your motionâ— and so taking him by the hand shée led him into the parler where amongst other company they past away y â— day in pleasant â—hat till that Lutesio found conuenient oportunitiâ— to discouer to Philippo the resolution of his wife who thought euerie minute a moneth till hee had heard what answer she had made to Lutesio At last they went both together walking into a garden that adioyned to the house of Philippo and there Lutesio who reuealed from point to point what he had motioned a farre off to Philomela and how honourably and honestly she replyed rehearsing what a cooling card of good counsaile shèe gaue him able to haue quailed the hotest stomacke or quenched the most eager flame that fancie could fire the mind of man withall entring into a large and high commendation of the chastitie wisedome and generall vertues of Philomela auerring that hee thought there was not a woman of more absolute qualities nor honorable disposition in al Italie Philippo the more he drunk the more he thirsted and the more he was perswaded to trust in her honesty the more he was suspitious and doubted of her vertue for he replyed still in his ielous humour that womens wordes were no warrantes of their truth that as the Onix is inwardly most cold when it is outwardly most hot so womens wordes are like the cries of Lapwings farthest from their thoughts as they are from their nests they proclaime silence with their tongues modestie with their eies chastitie with their actions when in their heartes they are plotting how to grant an amorous pleasure to their louers Tush saies Philippo womens tongues are tipt with deceite they can sing with the Nightingale though they haue a prick at their brests they can lend him a cherrie lippe whome they heartily loathe and fawne vpon her husbands neck when she giues her louer a wincke Though my wife hath made a faire shewe of vertue it is no authenticall proofe of hir honestie either she mistrusted or misdoubted of your sorcerie or els shee would seeme hard in the winning that her chastitie might be holden the more charie for be she neuer so wanton she will séeme modest and the most comman Curtesan will to a nouice seems the most coy matron they haue their countenance at command their words at will their oathes at plesure and all to shadow their scapes with the maskes of vertue Rodope seemed coy to Psanneticus else had a courtesan neuer conquered a king Hermia chaste to Aristotle else had she not bewitcht a Philosopher Platoes ouerworne trull true to him else had she not beene mistresse of his thoughts I tell thée Lutesio they haue more wiles then the sunne hath beames to betray the simple mâ—ning of besotted louers Therefore though she vttered a legend of good lessons beléeue hir not Though the Hare take squat she is not lost at the first defaulte applye thy wits try hir by letters write passionatly and héere her answer and assure thy selfe if thou cunningly cast forth the lure she will soone be reclaimed to the â—st Thus importuâ—ate was Philippo vpon his friend Lutesio that at the last he craued license to depart for a while leauinge philippo meditating of his melancholie while hee went into his chamber where taking pen and paper he wrote philomela this cunning letter Lutesio to the fayrest Philomela wisheth what he wants himselfe IT is no woonder philomela if mennes mindes be subiect to loue when their eyes are the instruments of desire nor is any blame worthy for affecting when as the sight of man is a sense that vieweng euery thing muste of force allow of some thinge I speake not swéet lady philosophically as a scholler but passionateliâ— as a louer whose eyes hath beene so lauish in ouer highe lookes that eyther they
murther both his wife Lutesio and so to flee away into some foraine countrey then he determined to accuse them before the Duke his néere kinsman and haue them openly punished with the extremitie of the law but he wanted witnesses to confirme his Ielouse allegations being thus in a quandary at last he called vp two genowaies his seruants slaues that neyther regarded God religion nor conscience and them hée suborned with swéet perswasions and large promises to sweare that he and they did take Lutesio and Philomela in an adulterous action although the base villaines had at all no sparkes of honesty in their mindes yet the honor of their lady her courtesâ—e to al her knowen vertues and speciall good qualities did so preuaile that they were passing vnwilling to blemishe her good name with their periuries yet at last the County cloyde theÌ„ so with the hope of golde that they gaue free consent to confirme by oath what so euer he should plot down to them Whereupon the next morning the Earle gat him early to the Duke of Uenice who was hiâ— cousin germaine and made solemne complaint of the dishonor offered him by his wife and signior Lutesio crauing iustice that he might haue suche a manifest iniurie redressed with the rigour of the Lawe The Duke whose name was Lorenso Medici greeued that his kinsman was vexed with such a crosse and sorrowed that Philomela that was so famous in Italye for her beutye and vertue should dishonour her selfe and her husband by yelding her loue to lasciuious Lutesio swearing a present dispatch of reuenge and thereupon graunted out warrantes to bring them both presentlye before him Philippo glad of this went his waye to the house of Lutesio wel armd and euery way appointed as if he had gone to sacke the strongest houlde in all Italye carrying with him a crue of his freends familiars furnished at al points to apprehend the guiltles gentleman assoone as they came to his house they found one of his seruants fitting at the dore Who seeing the Earle saluted him reuereÌ„tly merueiled what the reason should be hee was accompaied with such a multitude Philippo demaunded of him where his master was walking may it please your honour quoth he in his garden Then sayes the earle if he be no more busie I will be so bould as to goe speakâ— with him and therefore followe me saith hee to the crue who preasing in after the Earle encountered Lutesio coÌ„ming from his gardine to go into his chamber assone as he spied Philippo with a merrye looke as if his harte had commanded his eyes to bid him welcome he saluted the Earle most gratiously but highlye was astonished to see such a troope at his heeles Philippo contrarie as Lutesio offered to imbrace him with his best hand tooke him fast by the bosome and pulling forth his poineard said Traitour were it not I regard mine honor and were loath to be blemisht with the bloud of so base a companion I would rip out that false hart that hath violated the faith once vnited betwixt vs but the extremitie of the lawe shall reuenge thy villanie and therefore Officers take him into your custodie and carie him presentlie to the Duke whether I will bring straight the strumpet his Paramour that they maye receiue condigne punishment for their hainous and detestable treacherie Poore Lutesio who little lookt for such a gréeting of the Earle woondred whence this bitter spéech should growe so deeply amazed that he stood as a man in a trance til at last gathering his wits together hee began humblie and fearefullie to haue replied when the Earle commaunded the officers to carrie him awaie and would not heare him vtter anie word He speeding him home to his own house to fetch his sorrowful and faultles wife to heare the balefull verdict of hir appeached innocency comming vp into her bed chamber hee â—ound her sitting by her bed side on her knees in most hartie and deuout praier that it would please God to cleer her husband from his iealosie and protect her from anie open reproach or slaunder vttering her Orisons with such heart breaking sighs and aboundance of teares that the base catchpoles that came in with him tooke pittie and did compassionate the extremitie of her passions But Philippo as if he had participated his nature with the bloudthirstie Caniball or eaten of the seathin root that maketh a man to be as cruell in heart as it is hard in the rynde stept to her casting her backward bad her arise strumpet and hastely make her ready for the Duke staied for her comming and had sent his officers to fetch her Perplexed Philomela casting vp her eie and séeing such a crue of rake-hels ready to attend vpon him was so surchardged with griefe that she fell downe in a passion Philippo let her lie but the Ministers stept vnto her and receiued her againe assoone as shee was come to her selfe she desired Philippo that for all the loue of their youth he would grant her but onely this one fauour that she might not be carried before the Duke with that common attendance but that she and he might goe together without anie further open discredit and then if she could not prooue her selfe innocent let her without fauour abide the penaltie of the Lawe although shee craued this â—oone with abundance of teares yet Philippo would haue no remorse but compelled her to attire herselfe and then conuayed her with this crue to the Dukes palace where there was gathered together all the Consigladiors and chiefe Magistrates of the Cittie her passing through the stréetes draue a great wonder to the Uenetians what the cause of hir trouble should be so that infinite number of Citizens followed her and as manie as could thrust into the common Hall to heare what should bee obiected against Philomela At last when the Iudges were set and Lutesio and Philomela brought to the barre the Duke commaunded Philipo to discourse what article she had to obiect against his wife and Lutesio Phillippo with his eies full of Iealousie and heart armed with reuenge looking on them both fetching a deepe sigh began thus It is not vnknowen to the Uenetians right famous Duke and honorable Magistrates of this so worthie a Cittie how euer since I married this Philomela I haue yéelded her such loue with reuerence such affection with care such deuoted fauours with affected duties y â— I did rather honour her as a saint then regarde her as a wife so that the Uenetians counted mee rather to dote on her extreamly then to loue her ordinarilie neither can I denie mightie Lorenzo but Philomela returned all these my fauours with gentle loues and obedient amours beeing as duetifull a wifâ— as I was a louing husband vntill this Traitour Lutesio this ingrateful monster that liuing hath drunke of the riuer Lethe which maketh men forgetfull of what is past so he obliuious of all honour I did him was the first actor
distressor Then must Apollo bee fetcht from heauen Orpheus from his graue AmphioÌ„ from his rest the Syrens from their roks to qualifie thy musings with their musicks For though they excell in degrees of sounds thou exceedest in diuersities of sorrowes being far more miserable then musical and yet they the rarest of all others once Abstemia thou wâ—â—t counted the fairest in Italy and now thou art holden the falsest thy vertues were thought many now thy dishonors are counted nomberles thou wert the glory of thy parents the hope of thy friends the fame of thy country the wonder of thy time of modestie the peragon of Italy for honorable grace the patern wherby womeÌ„ did measure their perfections for shee that was holden lesse modest was counted a wanton and she that would seem more vertuous was esteemed too precise But now thou art valued worth lesse of all thy former honours by the stain of one vndeserued blemish Ah had I bin false to my husband perhaps I had bene more fortunate thogh not in mine owne conscience yet to the eies of the world lesse suspected and so not detected but innocency to God is the sweâ—test incence a coÌ„science without guilt is a sacrifice of the purest saâ—or What though I be blamed if my life be lent me my honor wil be recouered for as God wil not suffer a murther to escape without punishment so he wil not let the wrong of the innocent goe to his graue without reuenge Though thou bee bannished Abstemia yet comfort thy selfe account each countrey thine owne and euerye honest man thy neighbour let thy life bee meane so shalt thou not bee lookt into for enuye créepeth not so lowe as Cotages réeds bend with the wind when Cedars fall with a blast poore men relie lightly of fortune because they are to weake for fortune when higher states feele her force because they nosâ—e in her bosome acquaint not thy selfe with many least thou fal into the hands of flaterers for the popular sorts haue more eies and longer tongues then the rich seeme curteous to al but conuerse with fewe and let thy vertues bee much spoken though thy selfe liue neuer so priuate Hold honesty more déer then thy life be thou neuer so pore yet be chast choose rather to starue in the strâ—ets theÌ„ liue daintily at a lechers table if as thou art beutiful Abstemia anie fall in loue with thy fauours and what hee cannot winne by suites will seeke to get by force and so raâ—ishe thee of thy riâ—hest glorie choose rather to bee without breath then liue with such a blemish Thou art fraudlesse in Sicilia and though thou complainest thou shalt not be heard might ouercomes right and the weakest are still thrust to the wall To preuent therefore constraint in loue in the greatest Prince I haue prouided quoth she a poyson in the seale of my ring as deadly as it is litle resoluing as stoutly as Haniball did who held the like in the pomell of his sworde and choose rather to die free then fall into the hands of Scipio So before any leaâ—her shall force to saâ—isfie his passion I wil end my life with this fatal poison So Abstenia shalt thou die more honorablie which is more deere then to liue disgraced enough is a feast poore wench what needs these solemne preachings Leaue these secret dumps and fall to thy Lute for thou shalt haue time enough to thinke of sorrow and with that she tuned her strings and in a merrie vaine plaiâ—d three or foure pleasaunt lessons and at last sung to her selfe this conceitâ—d diâ—â—ie An Ode WHat is loue once disgrâ—ced But a wanton thought ill placed Which do blemish whom it paineth And dishonors whome it daineth Se ene in higer powers most Though some fooles doe fondlie bost That who so is high of kin Sanctifies his louers sin Ioue could not hide Ios scape Nor conceale Calistos rape Both did fault and both were famed Light of loues whome lust had shamed Let not women trust to men They can flatter now and then And tell them manie wanton tales Which doe breed their after bales Sinne in kings is sinne we see And greater sene cause greate of gree Maius peccatum this I râ—ad If he be high that doth the deâ—d Mars for all his Dietie Could not Venus dignifie But Vulcan trap her and her blame Was punisht with an open shame All the Gods laught them to scorne For dubbing Vulcan with the horne Whereon may a woman bost If her chastitie be lost Shame await'h vpon her face Blushing cheâ—ks and foule disgrace Report will blab this is she That with her lust winnes infamie If lusting loue be so disgrac't Die before you liue vnchast For better die with honest fame Then lead a wanton life with shame Assâ—â—ne as Philomela had ended her dittiâ— she laid down her Lute and fell to her booke but Tebaldo hauing heard all her secret meditatioÌ„ was driuen in such a mase with the conceipt of her incomparable excâ—llencie that he stoode as much astonished to heare her chaste spâ—â—ches as Acteon to sâ—e Dianas naked beauties entring with a percing insight into her vertues perceiuing shee was some greater personage then hee at the first tooke her for his loue was so qualed with the rarenes of her qualities that he rather indeuoured to honor her as a saint then to loue her as a paramour desire now began to chaunge to reuerence and affection to an honest deuotion that hee shamed be once thought any way lust towardes so vertuous a creature thus Metamorphosed he stept into her cabin and found her reading to whome he did shewe more then accustomed reuerence which Philomela returned with equall curtesie At last he tould her how hee had heard her lamentable discourse of her misfortune and the honorable resolution of her honestye which did so tye him to be deuoted towâ—â—ds her that if when shee came into Palermo his poore house might serue her for a lodging it and all therein with him selfe and his wife should bee at her commaund Philomela thanked him hartely for his kinde and courteous prâ—ffer and promised to her abilitie not to be vngratefull Well leauing her vnder saile towardes Palermo to S. Ganami Lutesio who harboring a hateful iâ—â—ent of reuenge in his minde against the County Philippo thoght to pay him home pat in his lappe and therefore making as spéedy a dispatch as might be of his affaires hee takes his iourney froÌ„ Uenice towardâ— the Duke of Millaines court the father of Philomela to whome he had recouÌ„ted what had hapned to his daughter what had chanced to him and how great dishonour was offered to him by her husband The Duke although these newes touched him at the quick yet dissembled the matter and beganne in great choller to vpbraid Lutesio that no doubt the earle did it vpon iust cause or els neither would hee haue wronged a wife whome so tenderly hee loued neyther reiected a freend whome